Hamilton Township and Liberty Union (Buckeye Division): The departure of Canal
Winchester for the OCC leaves the door open in the Buckeye, which produced four playoff teams in
2012. Hamilton Township has the athletes to contend for its first title since sharing it in 2002.
Despite being the smallest school in the division, newcomer Liberty Union should have no trouble
making the jump.

West Jefferson (Ohio Division): Although West Jefferson will now play against
larger schools than it did in the Cardinal, the Roughriders are easily the class of a division with
no other perennial powers.

Fairfield Christian and Harvest Prep (Cardinal Division): One of these teams in
the diluted new six-team Cardinal could win its first conference championship. FCA has legitimized
itself among the glut of Christian/private schools by reaching the Division VI playoffs twice in
the past three years. Harvest Prep boasts some fine athletes and might finally be on the verge of
taking the next step.

Star players

Aaron Hall-Williams (Hamilton Township): The MSL Buckeye back of the year in 2012,
Hall-Williams is a dangerous runner and receiver. The 5-9, 167-pound junior slotback rushed for 656
yards (11.1 average) and nine TDs, and made 37 receptions for 697 yards (18.8 average) for six TDs.
He also returned two of his three interceptions for touchdowns.

Ben Tobin (Fairfield Christian): In his first season at running back, Tobin
amassed a state-best 2,942 yards — 10th best in Ohio history — while averaging 8.6 yards per carry.
His 34 TDs and 208 points easily topped central Ohio.

Notable

Fairfield Union, Liberty Union, West Jefferson and Columbus Academy were charter members of the
MSL when it was formed in 1949. Berne Union, Amanda-Clearcreek, Bloom-Carroll, Millersport and
Canal Winchester joined in the 1950s. Until Canal Winchester left for the OCC, the Buckeye Division
had been intact since 1990. ... Harvest Prep and Madison Plains are the only MSL members not to
have qualified for the playoffs.